AIGMF and FEVE clarify microplastics misreporting

Two leading global organisations in the glass packaging sector have moved swiftly to correct public misinterpretations of a recent French study linking microplastics to beverages in glass bottles. The All India Glass Manufacturers' Federation (AIGMF) and the Federation of European Manufacturers of Glass Containers (FEVE) have both issued clarifications highlighting that the contamination stems not from the glass bottles, but from their caps.

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) conducted a study measuring microplastics across various beverage packaging formats, including plastic, cartons, cans, and glass. 

Contrary to expectations, higher levels of microplastic particles were found in drinks bottled in glass. However, ANSES clearly states that these particles originate “probably from the paint that covered” the metal caps, not from the glass containers themselves.

FEVE responded on 24 June 2025, “The study is clear that the level of microplastics found in the bottles tested is linked to the metal caps/closures of the bottles, and not from glass packaging itself. Glass does not react chemically with food or drinks that it contains.”

Glass, a non-toxic, inert material made from natural ingredients such as silica sand and cullet (recycled glass), undergoes high-temperature processing and contains no plastic components.

Vinit Kapur, Secretary of AIGMF, reaffirmed this distinction: “Glass bottles are manufactured from abundant natural ingredients such as silica sand and cullet (recycled glass), through a high-temperature process that does not involve the use or formation of plastics. The glass manufacturing units are entirely free of plastic production. When plastic particles are observed in beverages packaged in glass bottles, these particles are attributed to external components like caps and closures, specifically those involving painted metal surfaces, plastic liners, or sealing compounds.”

AIGMF President Rajesh Khosla, CEO of AGI, criticised the premature media coverage, “The glass industry Officials, unfortunately, were not consulted before making this study public. We request the media and public to verify the source and understand the glass manufacturing process to avoid spreading misleading information.”

ANSES identified the plastic particles found in drinks as being similar in composition and colour to the painted coating on the inside of metal caps. Scratches caused by cap friction during storage were cited as the likely source of microplastic contamination.

The study recommended improved cleaning of caps prior to bottling, or changes in cap paint formulation and handling. Both FEVE and AIGMF reaffirmed their commitment to consumer safety and collaboration across the value chain to address the issue responsibly.

Glass continues to be endorsed globally as one of the safest and most sustainable packaging materials.